By our correspondent
A Kaduna popular investigative Journalist Mr. Idibia Gabriel who was unjustly arrested by police and thrown into the prison custody over his news report has raised alarm over perpetual absent from hearing of his trial court case by the judge.
He’s being prosecuted on trump up charges bothering on alleged defamation, instigation of religious crises in the state, insult and intimidation by commissioner of police, Kaduna state command, for the pilgrims.
Mr. Idibia who was arrested by “Operation Yaki” Police operative and detained two times over his investigative news report on the poor organization of the 2023 Hajj. exercises by Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, decried frustration of his trial case in court Tuesday in Kaduna after another round of failed sitting.
The Journalist who’s the Head Bureau, Northern Operation, Daybreak Nigeria newspapers, in Kaduna, was remanded in prison by Kaduna Chief magistrate court 2, based on report supplied court by police and the Executive Secretary of the pilgrims, Alh. Yusuf Yakubu A.
When the case came up for mentioning on 12th November 2023, Counsel representing Mr. Idibia JS Kure told the prosecutor to furnished court with all the necessary material evidence for the prosecution of his client.
The prosecuting police however failed to provide the material evidence before the court two consecutive times as requested by the journalist respondent Counsel.
A definite hearing date was granted through a motion brought pursuant by the respondent Counsel when the claimant prosecutor failed to provide the evidence before the court on two consecutive times.
Incidentally, when the case came up for definite hearing on 21st February 2024, the court could failed to sit agins, as the Chief magistrate court 2, Duara road was said be absent.
In an interview, his counsel Barr. JS Kure expressed dismay over continue absent of the magistrate, saying no formal reason was given other than someone died for him, this and that, on each sitting, just to frustrate your case.
Second to last time the trial case came up first time for definite hearing was in 12th December 2023, and Chief magistrate was absent in court.
A new date has however been fixed for 13th March 2024, for definite hearing, appealing to the judge to sit over the case on that day if nothing happens to end it.
